Pliers



T. P. VANDIIGRIFT.V

PLIBRS.

110. 449,250. Patented 113,1. 31,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIIEODORE F. VANDEGRIFT, OF NOAH, ASSIGNOR TO THE VANDEGRIFT MAN-UFACTURING COMPANY, OF SI-IELBYVILLE, INDIANA.

PLIERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,250, dated March31, 1891.

Application led December 2, 1890. Serial No. 373,301. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDoEE F. VANDE- GRIFT, a'oitizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Noah, in the county of Shelby and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pliers, of whichthe following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to produce pliers in which oneof the jaws has an automatically-adjustable face, whereby the device tobe held may be gripped throughout the length of the jaws on both sides,in-

stead of at 'a single point only.

A further object is to produce in a single tool double pliers, and Ialso prefer to include in the same tool cutting-pliers, all as will behereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure1 is a perspective View of a pair when holding an article whose sidesare parallel; Fig. 3, a detail elevation, similar in outline to Fig. 2,showing the jaws asA they appear when holding an article whose sides areinclined in relation to each other, and also holding a second articlebetween the pivoted faceplate and the jaw proper, to which it isattached, thus showing how said pliers may be used as double pliers; andFig. 4, a transverse sectional view looking toward the right from thedotted line 4 4 in Fig. 2.

In said drawings the portions marked A. and B represent the two jaws ofthe pliers, and C the pivoted automatically-adjustable face-plate.

The jaws A and B are in themselves similar to the jaws of ordinarypliers in most particulars, and are secured together by an ordinarypivot l). The jaw A is provided with ears a a, between which a similarear c on the pivoted face-plate extends, anda pivot c connects themtogether. I prefer to make these pliers of a form to embody two pairs ofcutting-pliers, one of which is produced by the formation at the throatof the jaws in an ordinary and well-known manner, and the other of whichis produced by means of two upward projections a and b', which extendoff at substantially right angles from the jaws at a point thereonalongside the pivot b. These two pairs of cutting-pliers are of coursepreferably of different sizes, so as to be adapted to cut wires or suchlike articles of different diameters.

The face-plate O is pivoted, as above described, to the jaw A by meansof the earsa a c and pivot c. It works freely on its pivot within thelimit of its movement, and is thus adapted to automatically adjustitself to t throughout its whole length against one side of any devicewhose sides are bounded by righ lines and whose opposite is gripped bythe jaw B. By this means a long grip can be obtained on any article ofthis character, instead of a short grip, at a single point, as has beenthe case with ordinary pliers, and important advantages are vobviouslythns obtained. There are also many occasions when it is desired to holdtwo articles, like two rods or bars of metal, in parallel relation, inorder that they may be soldered or brazed or welded together, and thedouble use of this device, as illustrated in Fig. 3, enables this toconveniently be done, and dispenses with the use of two or more separatetools, which have heretofore been necessary to such an operation. Theembodying of additional cuttingpliersin the same implement is also ofconsiderable advantage, and adds materially to the value of the tool asa convenient and la` bor-saving device.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in pliers, of the two jaws and a face-plate pivotedcentrally to one of said jaws, with its body somewhat apart from saidjaw, whereby the pliers are constituted double pliers, substantiallyasset forth.

2. The combination, in pliers, ofthe two gripping or holding jaws, theface-plate pivoted to one of said jaws, and proj eetions formingcutting-pliers, whereby combined automaticallyadjustable gripping andcutting pliers are provided in a single instrument, substantially asshown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 29th day of November, A. D. 1890.

THEODORE F. VANDEGRIFT. [It 5.]

Witnesses:

CHESTER BRADFORD, OSCAR HAND.

IOO

